Droposed  Charter 

For 

Los  Angeles  County, 
California 


To  Be  Voted  Upon 

November  5,  1912 


Prepared  by  Board  o/  Freeholders 
September  24,  1912 

N.  W.  THOMPSON,  President 

FREDERICK  BAKER  J.   M.  HUNTER 

WILLIS  H.  BOOTH  GEORGE  F.  KERNAGHAN 

T.  H.  DUDLEY  A.  M.  SALYER 

W.  A.  ENGLE  FRANK  R.  SEAVER 

DAVID  EVANS  J.  H.  STRINE 

LESLIE  R.  HEWITT  CHARLES  WELLBORN 

H.  C.   HUBBARD  LEWIS  R.   WORKS 


Introduction  by  Lewis  R.  Works 


The  average  American  citizen  knows  less  about  the  government  of 
his  county  than  about  any  other  public  matter  which  merits  hig  atten- 
tion. This  is  owing  to  the  fact  that  county  government,  so-called,  is  not 
county  self-government  at  all,  but  simply  state  government  of  counties. 
No  man  can  be  expected  easily  to  become  intimate  with  a  government 
the  source  of  which  is  far  away,  even  though  it  prescribe  a  system  local 
in  its  application. 

The  Los  Angeles  County  Charter  is  a  concrete  presentation  of  the 
idea,  certainly  a  just  one,  that  the  right  of  local  self-government  belongs 
to  a  county,  as  well  as  to  any  other  political  subdivision.  To  be  more 
specific,  the  Charter,  insofar  as  the  state  constitution  permits,  excludes 
a  Siskiyou  County  member  of  the  legislature  from  taking  too  active  a 
part  in  the  government  of  Los  Angeles  County.  Under  present  con- 
ditions, the  county  is  governed  from  Sacramento.  Among  other  things, 
the  number  and  salaries  of  its  officers,  and  of  their  deputies,  depend 
largely  upon  trades  between  members  of  the  legislature.  When  the  new 
Charter  becomes  effective  we  may  solve  such  questions  for  ourselves. 

These  are  some  of  the  salient  features  of  the  proposed  instrument : 

1.  Authority  is  more  strongly  centralized  in  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors than  under  the  system  now  in  existence.    There  is  thus  presented 
as  close  an  approximation  to  the  commission  form  of  city  government 
as  is  possible  in  a  county.     The  value  of  this  feature  lies  in  the  fact  that 
it  enables  the  citizen  to  easily  locate  responsibility  for  misgovernment 
and  to  apply  the  corrective,  the  recall,  if  need  be. 

2.  The  publicity  feature  of  the  commission  form,  a  necessary  ad- 
junct to  the  fixing  of  responsibility,  is  preserved  in  the  Charter.     The 
Supervisors  are  required  to  publish  a  code  of  rules  prescribing  the  duties, 
and  fixing  systems  of  management,  accounts  and  reports,  for  the  offices, 
institutions  and  departments  of  the  county.     The  enforcement  of  these 
rules  by  the  Supervisors  is  also  specifically  commanded. 

3.  The  number  of  elective  officers  is  greatly  reduced,  thus  apply- 
ing the  principles  of  the  short  ballot,  with  all  the  advantages  which  such 

4.  Nearly  all  of  the  appointive  officers,  deputies,  clerks,  etc,  are  put 
under  the  operation  of  civil  service,  which  will  place  and  keep  men  in 
the  county  offices  because  of  their  merit,  and  not  through  their  apt- 
ness as  political  precinct  workers,  irrespective  of  merit. 

5.  The  fee  system  of  compensation  for  officers  is  abolished.     They 
are  to  receive  salaries  alone  and  they  all,  including  the  constables,  are 
to  pay  into  the  county  treasury  all  fees  collected  by  them. 

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6.  The  two  systems  heretofore  represented  by  the  sheriff's  office 
and  the  constables,  which  have  always  been  at  war  with  each  other, 
are  consolidated  under  a  Constabulary  Department,  headed  by  the  sheriff. 

7.  The  Supervisors  are  relieved  of  the  duty  of  caring  for  the  roads 
in  their  respective  districts.     The  Charter  provides  for  a  Road  Com- 
missioner,  who   will   have   charge   of  the   roads  throughout  the   entire 
county,  subject  to  the  general  direction  of  the  Supervisors. 

8.  The   article   entitled   "Labor"   contains  several   advanced   pro- 
visions concerning  the  subject  of  which  it  treats. 

9.  The  recall  is  applied  to  both   elective  and  appointive  officers, 
but  can  be  used  against  officers  under  the  civil  service  only  after  a 
petition  for  removal  in  the  ordinary  course  is  filed  with  the  Civil  Service 
Commission,  and  acted  upon. 

In  closing,  it  is  proper  to  say  a  few  words  concerning  the  question 
of  county  and  city  consolidation,  from  the  standpoint  of  the  Charter. 
It  was  feared  in  some  quarters,  when  work  on  the  Charter  was  first 
commenced,  that  the  instrument  was  intended  to  foster  consolidation. 
It  is  an  answer  to  such  a  fear  to  assert  that  the  state  constitution  does 
not  permit  the  Charter  to  touch  upon  the  question.  It  is  a  further 
answer  to  say,  irrespective  of  the  constitutionality  of  such  a  provision, 
that  the  Charter  contains  not  a  word  upon  the  subject  of  consolidation, 
nor  which  can  further  consolidation. 

The  sole  aim  of  the  Board  of  Freeholders  has  been  to  provide  a 
system  which  will  be  an  improvement  upon  the  present  one.  The  method 
of  county  government  prevailing  throughout  the  entire  country  is  a 
reproach  to  the  genius  and  attainments  of  the  American  people.  "We 
have  endeavored,  in  the  work  now  placed  before  the  public,  to  lift 
Los  Angeles  County,  at  least  a  little  above  the  common  plane. 

Even  though  the  Charter  contains  some  provisions  not  entirely  sat- 
isfactory to  the  reader,  he  should,  in  his  personal  interest  and  in  the 
interest  of  the  community,  let  his  verdict  depend  upon  the  question  as 
to  whether,  on  the  whole,  it  is  a  step  forward.  By  such  a  measure  must 
all  laws  be  judged. 

LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY  CHARTER. 

We,  the  people  of  the  County  of  Los  Angeles,  do  ordain  and  establish 
for  its  government  this 

CHARTER 


ARTICLE  I. 
Name  and  Rights  of  the  County. 

Section  1:  The  County  of  Los  Angeles,  as  it  now  exists,  is  a  body 
corporate  and  politic,  and  as  such  has  all  the  powers  specified  by  the 
constitution  and  laws  of  the  State  of  California,  and  by  this  Charter, 
and  such  other  powers  as  are  necessarily  implied. 

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Sec.  2:  The  powers  mentioned  in  the  preceding  section  can  be 
exercised  only  by  a  Board  of  Supervisors,  or  by  agents  and  officers  acting 
under  their  authority  or  by  authority  of  law  or  of  this  Charter. 

Sec.  3:  The  corporate  name  shall  be  " County  of  Los  Angeles," 
which  must  be  thus  designated  in  all  actions  and  proceedings  touching 
its  corporate  rights,  properties  and  duties.  Its  boundaries  and  county 
seat  shall  remain  the  same  as  they  now  are,  until  otherwise  changed 
by  law. 

ARTICLE  II. 
Board  of  Supervisors. 

Sec.  4:  The  County  of  Los  Angeles  shall  have  a  Board  of  Super- 
visors consisting  of  five  members,  each  of  whom  must  be  an  elector  of 
the  district  which  he  represents,  must  reside  therein  during  his  incum- 
bency, must  have  been  such  an  elector  for  at  least  one  year  immedi- 
ately preceding  his  election,  and  shall  be  elected  by  such  district.  Their 
terms  of  office  shall  be  four  years,  each  shall  hold  until  his  successor 
is  elected  and  qualified,  and  they  shall  each  receive  a  salary  of  $5000 
per  year  payable  monthly  from  the  County  Treasury.  They  shall  devote 
all  their  time  during  business  hours  to  the  faithful  service  of  the  public. 

Sec.  5:  The  County  is  hereby  divided  into  five  supervisor  districts, 
the  boundaries  of  which  shall  be  and  remain  as  they  now  are  until 
otherwise  changed  as  provided  in  this  Charter. 

Sec.  6 :  At  the  general  election  to  be  held  in  November.  1914, 
supervisors  shall  be  elected  from  the  First  and  Third  Supervisor  dis- 
tricts, whose  terms  shall  begin  at  noon  on  the  first  Monday  after  the 
first  day  of  January,  1915,  and  end  at  noon  on  the  first  Monday  in  De- 
cember, 1918;  provided,  that  each  shall  hold  office  until  his  successor 
is  elected  and  qualified. 

At  the  general  election  to  be  held  in  November,  1916,  supervisors 
shall  be  elected  from  the  Second,  Fourth  and  Fifth  districts,  whose  terms 
shall  begin  at  noon  on  the  first  Monday  after  the  first  day  of  January, 
1917,  and  end  at  noon  on  the  first  Monday  in  December,  1920;  provided, 
that  each  shall  hold  office  until  his  successor  is  elected  and  qualified. 

At  each  general  electon  after  November,  1916,  there  shall  be  elected, 
either  two  or  three  supervisors,  as  the  case  may  be,  for  terms  of  four 
years,  beginning  at  noon  on  the  first  Monday  in  December  next  after 
their  election,  and  ending  at  noon  on  the  first  Monday  in  December, 
four  years  thereafter. 

Sec.  7 :  The  Board  of  Supervisors  may,  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of 
its  members,  change  the  boundaries  of  any  supervisor  district.  No  such 
boundaries  shall  ever  be  so  changed  as  to  affect  the  incumbency  in  office 
of  any  supervisor.  Any  change  in  the  boundaries  of  any  supervisor 
district  must  be  made  within  one  year  after  a  general  election. 

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Sec.  8:  Whenever  a  vacancy  occurs  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
the  Governor  shall  fill  such  vacancy,  and  the  appointee  shall  hold  office 
until  the  election  and  qualification  of  his  successor.  In  such  case,  a  Su- 
pervisor shall  be  elected  at  the  next  general  election,  to  fill  the  vacancy 
for  the  unexpired  term,  unless  such  term  expires  on  the  first  Monday 
in  December  succeeding  said  election. 

Sec.  9:  The  Board  of  Supervisors  shall  elect  a  Chairman,  who  shall 
preside  at  all  meetings.  In  case  of  his  absence  or  inability  to  act,  the 
members  present  must,  by  an  order  entered  of  record,  select  one  of 
their  number  to  act  as  Chairman  pro  tern.  Any  member  of  the  Board 
may  administer  oaths,  when  necessary  in  the  performance  of  his  official 
duties.  A  majority  of  the  members  shall  constitute  a  quorum,  and  no 
act  of  the  Board  shall  be  valid  or  binding  unless  a  majority  of  the  mem- 
bers concur. 

ARTICLE  m. 
General  Powers  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 

Sec.  10:  The  Board  of  Supervisors  shall  have  all  the  jurisdiction 
and  power  which  are  now  or  which  may  hereafter  be  granted  by  the 
constitution  and  laws  of  the  State  of  California  or  by  this  charter. 

Sec.  11:    It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Supervisor!: 

(1)  To  appoint  all  county  officers  other  than  elective  officers,  and 
all  officers,  assistants,  deputies,  clerks,  attaches  and  employees  whose  ap- 
pointment is  not  provided  for  by  this  Charter.    Except  in  the  cases  of 
appointees  to  the  unclassified  service,  all  appointments  by  the  Board  shall 
be  from  the  eligible  civil  service  list.     The  Board  shall  provide,  by  ordi- 
nance, for  the  compensation  of  elective  officers  and  of  its  appointees,  un- 
less such  compensation  is  otherwise  fixed  by  this  Charter. 

(2)  To  provide,  by  ordinance,  for  the  number  of  Justices  of  the 
Peace  and  Constables,  to  be  elected  and  appointed,  respectively,  in  each 
Township.    The  Board  may  also  provide,  by  ordinance,  for  the  number 
and  fix  the  compensation,  of  such  other  judges  and  inferior  officers  of 
such  inferior  courts  as  are  now,  or  may  hereafter  be,  provided  by  the 
constitution  or  by  general  law. 

(3)  To  provide,  by  ordinance,  for  the  number  of  assistants,  dep- 
uties, clerks,  attaches,  and  other  persons  to  be  employed  from  time  to 
time  in  the  several  offices  and  institutions  of  the  county,  and  for  their 
compensation  and  the  times  at  which  they  shall  be  appointed. 

(4)  To  provide,  by  ordinance,  for  the  creation  of  offices  other  than 
those  required  by  the  constitution  and  laws  of  the  State,  and  for  the  ap- 
pointment of  persons  to  fill  the  same,  and  to  fix  their  compensation. 

(5)  To  require,  if  deemed  expedient,  any  county  or  township  offi- 
cer, or  employee,  before  or  after  entering  upon  the  duties  of  hit  office, 
or  service,  to  give  bond  for  the  faithful  performance  thereof,  in  such 
penal  sum  as  may  be  fixed  by  the  Board. 

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(6)  To  provide,  publish  and  enforce,  a  complete  code  of  rules,  not 
inconsistent  with  general  laws  or  this  Charter,  prescribing  in  detail  the 
duties,  and  the  systems  of  office  and  institutional  management,  accounts 
and  reports  for  each  of  the  offices,  institutions  and  departments  of  the 
county. 

ARTICLE  IV. 
County  Officers  Other  Than  Superviiors. 

Sec.  12:  The  elective  county  officers  other  than  members  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  shall  be :  Sheriff,  District  Attorney  and  Assessor. 

Sec.  13:  At  the  general  election  to  be  held  in  November,  1914,  a 
District  Attorney  shall  be  elected,  whose  term  shall  begin  at  noon  on 
the  first  Monday  after  the  first  day  of  January,  1915,  and  end  at  noon  on 
the  first  Monday  in  December,  1916.  At  the  same  election  a  Sheriff  and 
Assessor  shall  be  elected,  whose  terms  shall  begin  at  the  same  time  and  end 
at  noon  on  the  first  Monday  in  December,  1918.  At  the  general  election  to 
be  held  in  November,  1916,  and  every  four  years  thereafter,  a  District  At- 
torney shall  be  elected,  whose  term  shall  be  four  years,  beginning  at  noon 
on  the  first  Monday  in  December  following  his  election  and  ending  at  noon 
on  the  first  Monday  in  December  four  years  thereafter.  At  the  general 
election  to  be  held  in  November,  1918,  and  every  four  years  thereafter, 
a  Sheriff  and  Assessor  shall  be  elected,  whose  terms  shall  be  four  years, 
beginning  at  noon  on  the  first  Monday  in  December  following  their  elec- 
tion, and  ending  at  noon  on  the  first  Monday  in  December  four  years 
thereafter.  All  elective  county  officers  shall  hold  office  until  their  suc- 
cessors are  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec.  14:     The  appointive  county  officers  shall  be: 

Auditor 

Board  of  Education,  Members  of 

Board  of  Law  Library  Trustees,  Members  of 

Civil  Service  Commission,  Members  of 

Coroner 

County  Clerk 

County  Counsel 

Fish  and  Game  Warden 

Health  Officer 

Horticultural  Commissioner 

License  Collector 

Live  Stock  Inspector 

Probation  Committee,  Members  of 

Probation  Officer 

Public  Administrator 

Public  Defender 

Purchasing  Agent 


Recorder 

Registrar  of  Voters 

Road  Commissioner 

Superintendent  of  Charities 

Superintendent  of  Schools 

Surveyor 

Tax  Collector 

Treasurer 

Such  other  officers  as  may  hereafter  be  provided  by  law  shall  also 
be  appointive. 

The  Tax  Collector  shall  be  ex-officio  License  Collector. 

See.  15:  All  fees  collected  by  any  county  officer,  Board  or  Com- 
mission shall  be  paid  into  the  County  Treasury  on  the  first  Monday  of 
each  calendar  month,  together  with  a  detailed  statement  of  the  same 
in  writing,  a  duplicate  copy  of  which  shall  be  filed  with  the  Auditor 
at  the  same  time. 

Sec.  16 :  Whenever  a  vacancy  occurs  in  an  elective  county  office 
other  than  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  the  Board  shall  fill 
such  vacancy,  and  the  appointee  shall  hold  office  until  the  election  and 
qualification  of  his  successor.  In  such  case,  there  shall  be  elected  at 
the  next  general  election  an  officer  to  fill  such  vacancy  for  the  unexpired 
term,  unless  such  term  expires  on  the  first  Monday  in  December  suc- 
ceeding said  election. 

ARTICLE  V 

Township  Officers. 

Sec.  17 :  The  Board  of  Supervisors  must  provide,  by  ordinance, 
for  not  less  than  one  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  one  Constable  in  each 
township,  and  may  provide  for  more  in  townships  where  population  and 
the  business  therein  require  a  greater  number;  provided,  that,  until  the 
Board  shall  so  provide  for  such  Justices  of  the  Peace  and  Constables, 
the  number  of  each  thereof  in  each  township  shall  continue  as  now 
or  hereafter  provided  by  law;  provided,  further,  that  if  the  legislature 
shall  hereafter,  instead  of  the  system  of  Courts  of  Justices  of  the  Peace 
now  established  by  law,  substitute  some  other  system  of  inferior  courts, 
then  and  in  that  event,  it  shall  not  be  compulsory  upon  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  to  provide  any  number  for,  and  the  Board  may  discontinue 
the  existence  of  all  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  the  several  townships,  if 
such  discontinuance  be  allowed  by  law,  and  the  Board  may  provide  for 
such  number  of  inferior  Judges  or  Justices  as  may  be  necessary  for  the 
needs  of  the  county,  under  such  substituted  system. 

Sec.  18.  Justices  of  the  Peace  shall  be  nominated  and  elected  at 
the  times  and  in  the  manner  and  for  the  terms,  now  or  hereafter  pro- 
vided by  general  law.  Constables  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Sheriff 
from  the  eligible  civil  service  list. 

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See.  19 :  The  compensation  of  Justices  of  the  Peace  and  of  Con- 
stables shall  be  fixed  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  must  be  by 
salary  only,  which  need  not  be  uniform  for  the  several  townships,  nor 
proportionate  to  population  therein.  Their  duties  and  qualifications  shall 
be  such  as  are  now,  or  which  may  hereafter  be  prescribed  by  law,  or 
by  this  charter. 

Sec.  20 :  All  fees  collected  by  any  Justice  of  the  Peace  or  Constable 
shall  be  paid  into  the  County  Treasury,  on  the  first  Monday  of  each 
calendar  month,  together  with  a  detailed  statement  of  the  same  in  writ- 
ing, a  duplicate  copy  of  which  shall  be  filed  with  the  Auditor  at  the 
same  time.  The  fees  to  be  so  paid  into  the  Treasury  by  each  Constable 
shall  include  all  fees  charged  and  collected  by  him  for  service  of  any 
writ  or  process  of  any  court  or  for  any  act  or  service  done  or  rendered 
by  him,  or  which  he  has  power  or  which  it  is  his  duty  to  do  or  render, 
in  his  official  capacity;  and  every  Constable  shall  enter  in  the  fee  'book 
kept  by  him  all  such  fees  charged  and  collected  by  him  and  pay  the  same 
into  the  County  Treasury  as  above  provided,  without  deduction  for  any 
such  acts  or  services  purporting  or  claimed  to  have  been  done  or  rend- 
ered by  him  as  a  private  citizen. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

Duties  of  Officers. 

Sec.  21 :  The  County  Counsel  shall  represent  and  advise  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  and  all  county,  township  and  school  district  officers,  in 
all  matters  and  questions  of  law  pertaining  to  their  duties,  and  shall 
have  exclusive  charge  and  control  of  all  civil  actions  and  proceedings 
in  which  the  county,  or  any  officer  thereof,  is  concerned  or  is  a  party. 
He  shall  also  act  as  attorney  for  the  Public  Administrator  in  the  matter 
of  all  estates  in  which  such  officer  is  executor,  administrator  with  the 
will  annexed,  or  administrator,  and  the  County  Counsel  shall,  in  every 
such  matter,  collect  the  attorney's  fees  allowed  therein  by  law  and  pay 
the  same  into  the  County  Treasury. 

Sec.  22:  The  Superintendent  of  Charities  shall  be  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  shall  exercise  a  general  super- 
vision over,  and  enforce  rules  and  regulations  for  the  conduct  and  gov- 
ernment of,  the  charitable  institutions  of  the  county.  He  shall  perform 
such  other  duties  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  or 
by  law. 

Sec.  23 :  Upon  request  by  the  Defendant  or  upon  order  of  the 
Court,  the  Public  Defender  shall  defend,  without  expense  to  them,  all 
persons  who  are  not  financially  able  to  employ  counsel  and  who  are 
charged,  in  the  Superior  Court,  with  the  commission  of  any  contempt, 
misdemeanor,  felony  or  other  offense.  He  shall  also,  upon  request,  give 
counsel  and  advice  to  such  persons,  in  and  about  any  charge  against 

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them  upon  which  he  is  conducting  the  defense,  and  he  shall  prosecute 
all  appeals  to  a  higher  court  or  courts,  of  any  person  who  has  been 
convicted  upon  any  such  charge,  where,  in  his  opinion,  such  appeal  will, 
or  might  reasonably  be  expected  to,  result  in  a  reversal  or  modifica- 
tion of  the  judgment  of  conviction. 

He  shall  also,  upon  request,  prosecute  actions  for  the  collection  of 
wages  and  of  other  demands  of  persons  who  are  not  financially  able  to 
employ  counsel,  in  cases  in  which  the  sum  involved  does  not  exceed  $100, 
and  in  which,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Public  Defender,  the  claims  urged 
are  valid  and  enforceable  in  the  courts. 

He  shall  also,  upon  request,  defend  such  persons  in  all  civil  litiga- 
tion in  which,  in  his  judgment,  they  are  being  persecuted  or  unjustly 
harassed. 

The  costs  in  all  actions  in  which  the  Public  Defender  shall  appear 
under  this  section,  whether  for  plaintiffs  or  for  defendants,  shall  be 
paid  from  the  County  Treasury,  al  the  times  and  in  the  manner  required 
by  law,  or  by  rules  of  court,  and  under  a  system  of  demand,  audit  and 
payment,  which  shall  be  prescribed  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  It 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Public  Defender,  in  all  such  litigation,  to  pro- 
cure, if  possible,  in  addition  to  general  judgments  in  favor  of  the  persons 
whom  he  shall  represent  therein,  judgments  for  costs  and  attorney's 
fees,  where  permissible,  against  the  opponents  of  such  persons,  and 
collect  and  pay  the  same  into  the  County  Treasury. 

Sec.  24:  Subject  to  rules  and  regulations  which  shall  be  adopted 
by  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  by  ordinance,  the  Purchasing  Agent  shall 
be  the  buyer  of  furniture,  fixtures,  tools,  supplies,  materials  or  other 
articles  of  personal  property  for  the  county  and  for  county,  township 
and  all  other  officers. 

Sec.  25 :  Each  county  or  township  officer,  Board  or  Commission  shall 
have  the  powers  and  perform  the  duties  now  or  hereafter  prescribed  by 
general  law,  and  by  this  Charter,  as  to  such  officer,  Board  or  Commission. 

ARTICLE  VH. 
Road  Department. 

Sec.  26:  The  Board  of  Supervisors  may  provide  for  the  formation 
of  road  districts  for  the  care,  maintenance,  repair  and  supervision  of 
roads,  highways  and  bridges;  and  for  the  formation  of  highway  con- 
struction divisions  for  the  construction  of  roads,  highways  and 
bridges;  for  the  inclusion  in  any  such  district  or  division  of 
the  whole  or  any  part  of  any  incorporated  city  or  town  upon 
ordinance  passed  by  such  incorporated  city  or  town  authorizing 
the  same,  and  upon  the  assent  to  such  inclusion  by  a  majority  of 
the  qualified  electors  of  such  incorporated  city  or  town  or  portion 
thereof  proposed  to  be  so  included  at  an  election  held  for  that  purpose; 

10 


for  the  organization,  government,  powers  and  jurisdiction  of  such  dis- 
trict or  division,  for  raising  revenue  therein  for  §uch  purposes,  by  tax- 
ation, upon  the  assent  of  a  majority  of  the  qualified  electors  of  such 
district  or  division,  voting  at  an  election  held  for  that  purpose;  for 
the  incurring  of  indebtedness  therefor  by  the  county,  district  or  division 
for  such  purposes,  respectively,  by  the  issuance  and  sale,  by  the  county,  of 
bonds  of  the  county,  district  or  division,  and  the  expenditure  of  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  sale  of  such  bonds,  and  for  levying  and  collecting  taxes  against 
the  property  of  the  county,  district  or  division,  as  the  case  may  be, 
for  the  payment  of  th«  principal  and  interest  of  such  indebtedness  at 
maturity;  provided  that  any  such  indebtedness  shall  not  be  incurred 
without  the  assent  of  two-thirds  of  the  qualified  electors  of  the  county, 
district  or  division,  as  the  case  may  be,  voting  at  an  election  held  for 
that  purpose,  nor  unless  before  or  at  the  time  of  incurring  such  indebt- 
edness, provision  shall  be  made  for  the  collection  of  an  annual  tax 
sufficient  to  pay  the  interest  on  such  indebtedness  as  it  falls  due,  and 
also  for  a  sinking  fund  for  the  payment  of  the  principal  thereof  on  or 
before  maturity,  which  shall  not  exceed  forty  years  from  the  time  of 
contracting  the  same;  and  the  procedure  for  voting,  issuing  and  sell- 
ing such  bonds,  except  insofar  as  the  same  shall  be  otherwise  prescribed 
in  this  Charter,  shall  conform  to  general  laws  for  the  authorizing  and 
incurring  of  bonded  indebtedness  by  counties  so  far  as  applicable;  pro- 
vided, further,  that  the  construction,  care,  maintenance,  repair  and  su- 
pervision of  roads,  highways  and  bridges  for  which  aid  from  the  state 
is  granted  shall  be  subject  to  such  regulations  and  conditions  as  may 
be  imposed  by  the  legislature. 

Sec.  27:  The  Eoad  Commissioner,  subject  to  such  rules  and  regu- 
lations as  shall  be  prescribed  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  shall  have 
direction  and  control  over  all  work  of  construction,  maintenance  and 
repair  of  roads,  highways  and  bridges,  other  than  work  done  under 
contract,  and  it  shall  be  his  duty  to  examine  and  inspect  contract  work 
as  the  same  progresses  and  to  see  that  the  same  is  properly  performed, 
and  when  completed  to  file  his  written  approval  thereof  with  the  Board 
of  Supervisors.  He  shall  also  have  the  control  and  management  of  all 
county  rock  quarries  and  gravel  pits,  and  of  all  other  materials,  prop- 
erty and  instrumentalities  necessary  for  and  connected  with  the  con- 
struction, maintenance  and  repair  of  roads,  highways  and  bridges. 

ARTICLE  VIH. 
Constabulary  Department. 

Sec.  28:  There  is  hereby  created  a  Constabulary  Department,  con- 
sisting of  the  Sheriff  and  of  all  Constables,  who  are  hereby  made  ex-officio 
Deputy  Sheriffs. 

Sec.  29 :  The  Sheriff  shall  be  the  head  of  said  Department,  and  shall 
so  organize  the  same  as  to  give  the  county  efficient  and  effective  police 

11 


protection.  Each  Constable  shall  be  subject  to  the  orders  of  the  Sheriff 
and  must  serve  process  within  his  township,  or  elsewhere,  when  re- 
quested, and  he  shall  also  perform  all  the  duties  required  of  him  by  law. 

ARTICLE  IX. 
Civil  Service. 

Sec.  30:  On  or  before  the  first  day  of  July,  1913,  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  shall  appoint  three  persons  as  members  of  the  Civil  Service 
Commission,  who  shall  so  classify  themselves  as  that  one  shall  serve  until 
the  first  Monday  in  December,  1915,  at  noon,  one  until  the  first  Monday 
in  December,  1917,  at  noon,  and  one  until  the  first  Monday  in  December, 
1919,  at  noon.  Before  the  first  Monday  in  December  of  each  alternate 
year  after  1913,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  shall  appoint  one  person  as 
the  successor  of  the  member  of  the  commission  whose  term  shall  then 
expire,  to  serve  for  six  years.  Any  vacancy  on  the  Commission  shall 
be  filled  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  for  the  unexpired  term.  Each 
member  of  the  Commission  shall  serve  until  his  successor  is  appointed 
and  qualified.  Not  more  than  one  member  shall  be  an  adherent  of  the 
same  political  party.  No  member  shall  hold  any  other  salaried  county 
office,  nor  shall  he  have  been,  within  the  year  next  preceding  his  ap- 
pointment, an  active  executive  officer  in  any  political  organization.  Each 
member  shall  have  been  a  resident  of  the  county  for  the  five  years  next 
preceding  his  appointment,  and  his  name  shall  be  upon  the  state  and 
county  assessment  rolls  at  the  time  thereof.  The  Board  of  Supervisors, 
by  a  four-fifths  vote  of  all  the  members,  may  remove  a  member  of  the 
Commission  during  his  term  of  office,  but  only  upon  stating  in  writing 
the  reasons  for  such  removal  and  allowing  him  an  opportunity  to  be 
publicly  heard  in  his  own  defense.  The  Commission  shall  elect  one  of 
its  members  president. 

Sec.  31 :  Each  member  of  the  Commission  shall  receive  a  compen- 
sation of  Ten  Dollars  for  each  meeting  thereof  attended  by  him,  not 
to  exceed  five  meetings  in  any  calendar  month.  The  Commission  shall 
appoint  and  fix  the  compensation  of  a  Chief  Examiner,  who  shall  also 
act  as  Secretary.  This  position  shall  be  in  the  competitive  class.  The 
Commission  may  appoint  and  fix  the  compensation,  of  such  other  subordi- 
nates as  may  be  necessary. 

Sec.  32 :  For  the  support  of  the  work  of  the  Commission,  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  shall  annually  levy  and  collect  a  tax  on  all  taxable  prop- 
erty in  the  county,  at  the  rate  of  not  less  than  one-half  of  one  cent  on 
each  One  Hundred  Dollars  of  assessed  valuation  thereof.  Any  part  of 
the  tax  so  levied  for  any  fiscal  year  not  expended  during  such  fiscal 
year,  or  required  to  defray  expenses  incurred  during  such  year,  shall 
on  the  first  day  of  January  next  succeeding  the  end  thereof,  be  placed 
in  the  general  fund  of  the  county. 

12 


Sec.  33 :  The  Civil  Service  of  the  county  is  hereby  divided  into  the 
unclassified  and  the  classified  service. 

The  unclassified  service  shall  comprise: 

(a)  All  officers  elected  by  the  people. 

(b)  In  the  office  of  the  District  Attorney:     The  Chief  and  one 
other  deputy,  one  secretary,  and  three  detectives;  and  special  counsel 
and  special  detectives  for  temporary  employment. 

(c)  In  the  office  of  the  Sheriff:    The  Under  Sheriff,  or  Chief  Dep- 
uty.   In  the  office  of  the  Assessor:    The  Chief  Deputy. 

(d)  Superintendents,  principals  and  teachers  in  the  school  system. 

(e)  Members  of  the  County  Board  of  Education. 

(f)  Members  of  the  Civil  Service  Commission. 

(g)  All  officers  and  other  persons  serving  the  county  without  com- 
pensation. 

The  classified  service  shall  include  all  other  positions  now  existing 
or  hereafter  created. 

Sec.  34:  The  Commission  shall  prescribe,  amend  and  enforce  rules 
for  the  classified  service,  which  shall  have  the  force  and  effect  of  law; 
shall  keep  minutes  of  its  proceedings  and  records  of  its  examinations 
and  shall,  as  a  Board  or  through  a  single  Commissioner,  make  investi- 
gations concerning  the  enforcement  and  effect  of  this  Article  and  of 
the  rules  and  efficiency  of  the  service.  It  shall  make  an  annual  report 
to  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 

The  rules  shall  provide : 

(1)  For  the  classification  of  all  positions  in  the  classified  service. 

(2)  For  open,  competitive  examinations  to  test  the  relative  fitness 
of  applicants  for  such  positions. 

(3)  For  public  advertisement  of  all  examinations. 

(4)  For  the  creation  of  eligible  lists  upon  which  shall  be  entered 
the  names  of  successful  candidates  in  the  order  of  their  standing  in 
examination.     Such  lists  shall  remain  in  force  not  longer  than  two  years. 

(5)  For  the  rejection  of  candidates  or  eligibles  who  fail  to  comply 
with  the  reasonable  requirements  of  the  Commission  in  regard  to  age, 
residence,  sex,  physical  condition  or  who  have  been  guilty  of  crime  or 
of  infamous  or  disgraceful  conduct  or  who  have  attempted  any  deception 
or  fraud  in  connection  with  an  examination. 

(6)  For  the  appointment  of  one  of  the  three  persons  standing  high- 
est on  the  appropriate  list. 

(7)  For  a  period  of  probation  not  to  exceed  six  months  before 
appointment   or  promotion   is   made   complete,   during  which   period   a 
probationer  may  be  discharged  or  reduced  with  the  consent  of  the  com- 
mission. 

(8)  For  non-competitive  examinations  for  minor  positions  in  the 
county  institutions  when  competition  is  found  to  be  impracticable. 

13 


(9)  For  temporary  employment  of  persons  on  the  eligible  list  until 
list  of  the  class  covering  the  temporary  employment  is  exhausted;  and 
in  cases  of  emergency,  for  temporary  employment  without  examination, 
with  the  consent  of  the  Commission,  after  the  eligible  list  has  been  ex- 
hausted.    But   no   such   temporary   employment   shall    continue   longer 
than  sixty  days,  nor  shall  successive  temporary  appointments  be  allowed. 
Nor  shall  the  acceptance  or  refusal  to  accept  such  temporary  appoint- 
ment on  the  part  of  a  person  on  the  eligible  list  be  a  bar  to  appointment 
to  a  permanent  position  from  said  eligible  list. 

(10)  For  transfer  from  one  position  to  a  similar  position  in  the 
same  class  and  grade  and  for  reinstatement  within  one  year  of  persons 
who  without  fault  or  delinquency  on  their  part  are  separated  from  the 
service  or  reduced. 

(11)  For  promotion  based  on  competitive  examination  and  records 
of  efficiency,  character,  conduct  and  seniority.    Lists  shall  be  created  and 
promotion  made  therefrom  in  the  same  manner  as  prescribed  for  original 
appointment.    An  advancement  in  rank  or  an  increase  in  salary  beyond 
the  limit  fixed  for  the  grade  by  the  rules  shall  constitute  promotion. 
Whenever  practicable  vacancies  shall  be  filled  by  promotion. 

(12)  For   suspensions  for  not   longer  than   thirty   days   and   for 
leaves  of  absence. 

(13)  For  discharge  or  reduction  in  rank  or  compensation  after  ap- 
pointment or  promotion  is  complete,  only  after  the  person  to  be  dis- 
charged or  reduced  has  been  presented  with  the  reasons  for  such  dis- 
charge or  reduction,  specifically  stated,  and  has  been  allowed  a  reason- 
able time  to  reply  thereto  in  writing.    The  reasons  and  the  reply  must 
be  filed  as  a  record  with  the  Commission. 

(14)  For  the  appointment  of  unskilled  laborers  and  such  skilled 
laborers  as  the  Commission  may  determine  in  the  order  of  priority  of 
application  after  such  tests  of  fitness  as  the  Commission  may  prescribe. 

(15)  For  the  establishment  of  a  bureau  of  efficiency,  consisting  of 
the  Commission,  the  Secretary  thereof  and  the  Auditor,  for  the  purpose 
of  determining  the  duties  of  each  position  in  the  classified  service,  fix- 
ing standards  of  efficiency,  investigating  the  methods  of  operation  of 
the  various  departments,  and  recommending  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
and  department  heads  measures  for  increasing  individual,  group  and  de- 
partmental efficiency,  and  providing  for  uniformity  of  competition  and 
simplicity  of  operation.     The  Commission  shall  ascertain  and  record  the 
comparative  efficiency  of  employes  in  the  classified  service  and  shall  have 
power,  after  hearing,  to  dismiss  from  the  service  those  who  fall  below 
the  standard  of  efficiency  established. 

(16)  For  the  adoption  and  amendment  of  rules  only  after  public 
notice  and  hearing. 

14 


The  Commission  shall  adopt  such  other  rules,  not  inconsistent  with 
the  foregoing  provisions  of  this  section,  as  may  be  necessary  and  proper 
for  the  enforcement  of  this  article. 

Sec.  35:  In  case  of  a  vacancy  in  a  position  requiring  peculiar 
and  exceptional  qualifications  of  a  scientific,  professional  or  expert  char- 
acter, upon  satisfactory  evidence  that  competition  is  impracticable  and 
that  the  position  can  best  be  filled  by  the  selection  of  some  designated 
person  of  recognized  attainments,  the  Commission  may,  after  public  hear- 
ing and  by  the  affirmative  vote  of  all  three  members  of  the  Commission, 
suspend  competition,  but  no  such  suspension  shall  be  general  in  its  ap- 
plication to  such  positions,  and  all  such  cases  of  suspension  shall  be  re- 
ported, together  with  the  reason  therefor,  in  the  annual  reports  of  the 
Commission. 

Sec.  36:  All  examinations  shall  be  impartial  and  shall  deal  with 
the  duties  and  requirements  of  the  position  to  be  filled.  When  oral  tests 
are  used,  a  record  of  the  examination,  showing  basis  of  rating,  shall  be 
made.  Examinations  shall  be  in  charge  of  the  chief  examiner  except  when 
members  of  the  commission  act  as  examiners.  The  commission  may  call 
on  other  persons  to  draw  up,  conduct  or  mark  examinations,  and  when 
such  persons  are  connected  with  the  county  service  it  shall  be  deemed 
a  part  of  their  official  duties  to  act  as  examiners  without  extra  com- 
pensation. 

Sec.  37 :  All  persons  in  the  county  or  township  service  holding  posi- 
tions in  the  classified  service  as  established  by  this  Article,  at  the  time 
it  takes  effect,  whether  holding  by  election  or  by  appointment,  and  who 
shall  have  been  in  such  service  for  the  six  months  next  preceding  shall 
hold  their  positions  until  discharged,  reduced,  promoted  or  transferred 
in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  Article.  The  Commission  shall 
maintain  a  civil  list  of  all  persons  in  the  county  service,  showing  in  con- 
nection with  each  name  the  position  held,  the  date  and  character  of  every 
appointment  and  of  every  subsequent  change  in  status.  Each  appointing 
officer  shall  promptly  transmit  to  the  Commission  all  information  required 
for  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  said  civil  list. 

Sec.  38 :  The  Auditor  shall  not  approve  any  salary  or  compensation 
for  services  to  any  person  holding  or  performing  the  duties  of  a  position 
in  the  classified  service,  unless  the  payroll  or  account  for  such  salary 
or  compensation  shall  bear  the  certificate  of  the  commission  that  the 
persons  named  therein  have  been  appointed  or  employed  and  are  per- 
forming service  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  Article  and  of 
the  rules  established  thereunder. 

Sec.  39 :  Charges  against  any  person  in  the  classified  service  may  be 
made  to  the  Commission  by  any  elector  of  the  county,  such  charges  to  be 
in  writing. 

11 


Sec.  40:  In  any  investigation  conducted  by  the  Commission  it  shall 
have  the  power  to  subpoena  and  require  the  attendance  of  witnesses  and 
the  production  thereby  of  books  and  papers  pertinent  to  the  investigation 
and  each  Commissioner  shall  have  the  power  to  administer  oaths  to  such 
witnesses. 

Sec.  41:  No  person  in  the  classified  service,  or  seeking  admission 
thereto,  shall  be  appointed,  reduced  or  removed  or  in  any  way  favored  or 
discriminated  against  because  of  his  political  or  religious  opinions  or  affil- 
iations. 

Sec.  42 :  No  officer  or  employe  of  the  county,  in  the  classified  service, 
shall,  directly  or  indirectly,  solicit  or  receive,  or  be  in  any  manner  con- 
cerned in  soliciting  or  receiving,  any  assessment,  subscription  or  contri- 
bution for  any  political  party  or  political  purpose  whatever.  No  person 
shall,  orally  or  by  letter,  solicit,  or  be  in  any  manner  concerned  in  solicit- 
ing, any  assessment,  subscription  or  contribution  for  any  political  party 
or  purpose  whatever  from  any  person  holding  a  position  in  the  classified 
service. 

Sec.  43 :  No  person  holding  a  position  in  the  classified  service  shall 
take  any  part  in  political  management  or  affairs  or  in  political  campaigns 
further  than  to  cast  his  vote  and  to  express  privately  his  opinions. 

Sec.  44:  Any  person  wilfully  violating  any  of  the  provisions  of  this 
Article,  or  of  the  rules  established  thereunder,  shall  be  guilty  of  a  misde- 
meanor. 

ARTICLE  X. 

Labor. 

Sec.  45 :  In  the  employment  of  persons  in  the  service  of  the  county, 
where  sex  does  not  actually  disqualify  and  where  the  quality  and  quan- 
tity of  service  is  equal,  there  shall  be  no  discrimination  in  selection  or 
compensation,  on  account  of  sex. 

Sec.  46:  Eight  hours  shall  constitute  a  day's  work  for  mechanics 
and  others  engaged  in  manual  labor  in  the  service  of  the  county. 

Sec.  47 :  In  fixing  compensation  to  be  paid  to  persons  under  the 
classified  civil  service,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  shall,  in  each  instance, 
provide  a  salary  or  wage  at  least  equal  to  the  prevailing  salary  or  wage 
for  the  same  quality  of  service  rendered  to  private  persons,  firms  or  cor- 
porations under  similar  employment  in  case  such  prevailing  salary  or 
wage  can  be  ascertained. 

Sec.  48:  Every  person  who  shall  have  been  in  the  service  of  the 
county,  continuously,  for  one  year,  shall  be  allowed  a  vacation  of  two 
weeks  on  full  pay,  annually. 

Sec.  49 :  The  Board  of  Supervisors  shall  prohibit  enforced  labor  with- 
out compensation  as  a  penalty  for  the  commission  of  public  offenses.  The 
net  earnings  of  all  county  prisoners,  based  upon  reasonable  compensation 

18 


for  services  performed,  shall  go  to  the  support  of  their  dependents,  and  if 
such  prisoners  have  no  dependents,  such  net  earnings  shall  accumulate 
and  be  paid  to  them  upon  their  discharge. 

ARTICLE  XI. 

Recall. 

Sec.  50:  The  holder  of  any  elective  or  appointive  county  or  town- 
ship office  may  be  recalled  by  the  electors  at  any  time  after  he  has  held 
his  office  six  months.  The  provisions  of  this  Article  shall  apply  to  officials 
now  in  office,  and  to  those  hereafter  elected  or  appointed.  Such  recall 
shall  be  effected  as  follows:  A  petition  demanding  the  election  or  ap- 
pointment of  a  successor  to  the  person  sought  to  be  recalled  shall  be  filed 
with  the  Registrar  of  Voters,  which  petition  shall  be  signed  by  qualified 
voters  equal  in  number  to  at  least  fifteen  per  cent  of  the  entire  vote  cast 
within  the  county  for  all  candidates  for  the  office  of  Governor  of  the  state 
at  the  last  preceding  election  at  which  a  Governor  was  elected  (or  at  least 
twenty-five  per  cent  of  such  vote  cast  within  the  district  or  township  for 
which  the  officer  sought  to  be  recalled  was  elected  or  appointed,  in  case  of 
an  official  not  elected  by  or  appointed  for  the  county)  and  shall  contain  a 
statement  of  the  grounds  on  which  the  recall  is  sought.  No  insufficiency 
of  form  or  substance  in  such  statement  shall  affect  the  validity  of  the 
election  and  proceedings  held  thereunder.  The  signatures  to  the  petition 
need  not  all  be  appended  to  one  paper.  Each  signer  shall  add  to  his  signa- 
ture his  place  of  occupation  and  residence,  giving  street  and  number  or  if 
no  street  or  number  exist,  then  such  a  designation  of  his  residence  as  will 
enable  the  location  to  be  readily  ascertained.  To  each  separate  paper  of 
such  petition  shall  be  attached  an  affidavit  made  by  a  qualified  elector  of 
the  county,  stating  that  the  affiant  circulated  that  particular  paper  and 
saw  written  the  signatures  appended  thereto,  and  that,  according  to  the 
information  and  belief  of  the  affiant,  each  of  said  signatures  is  genuine, 
and  the  signature  of  a  qualified  elector  of  the  county  (or  particular  sub- 
division thereof  in  which  such  signers  are  hereby  required  to  reside). 
Within  ten  days  from  the  filing  of  such  petition,  the  Registrar  of  Voters 
shall,  from  the  records  of  registration,  determine  whether  or  not  said 
petition  is  signed  by  the  requisite  number  of  qualified  voters,  and  he  shall 
attach  to  said  petition  his  certificate  showing  such  determination.  If 
such  certificate  shows  the  petition  to  be  insufficient,  it  may  be  supple- 
mented within  ten  days  from  the  date  of  the  certificate  by  the  filing  of 
additional  papers,  duplicates  of  the  original  petition  except  as  to  the 
names  signed.  The  Registrar  of  Voters  shall,  within  ten  days  after  such 
additional  papers  are  filed,  ascertain  from  the  records  of  registration,  and 
certify  whether  or  not  the  names  to  such  petition,  including  such  addi- 
tional papers,  are  still  insufficient,  and  if  insufficient,  no  action  shall  be 
taken  thereon;  but  the  petition  shall  remain  on  file  as  a  public  record. 
The  failure  to  secure  sufficient  names  shall  not  prejudice  the  filing  later 

17 


of  an  entirely  new  petition  to  the  same  effect.  If  required  by  tke  Regis- 
trar of  Voter*,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  shall  authorize  him  to  employ, 
and  shall  provide  for  the  compensation  of,  persona  necessary  in  the  exami- 
nation of  said  petition  and  supplementing  petition,  in  addition  to  the  per- 
sons regularly  employed  by  him  in  his  office.  In  case  the  Registrar  of 
Voters  is  the  officer  sought  to  be  recalled,  the  duties  in  this  Article  pro- 
vided to  be  performed  by  him  shall  be  performed  by  the  County  Clerk. 
If  the  petition  shall  be  found  to  be  sufficient,  the  Registrar  of  Voters  shall 
submit  the  same  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  without  delay,  whereupon 
the  Board  shall  forthwith  cause  a  special  election  to  be  held  not  less  than 
thirty-five  nor  more  than  forty  days  after  the  date  of  the  order  calling 
such  an  election,  to  determine  whether  the  voters  shall  recall  such  officer. 
If  a  vacancy  occur  in  said  office  after  a  recall  petition  is  filed,  and  the 
office  is  elective,  the  election  shall  nevertheless  proceed  as  in  this  section 
provided.  One  petition  is  sufficient  to  propose  the  recall  of  one  or  more 
officials  and  the  election  of  successors  to  such  thereof  as  are  elective. 
Nominations  for  any  elective  office  under  such  recall  election  shall  be  made 
by  petition  in  the  manner  prescribed  by  section  1188  of  the  Political  Code. 
Upon  the  sample  ballot  there  shall  be  printed,  in  not  more  than  two  hun- 
dred words,  the  grounds  set  forth  in  the  recall  petition  for  demanding  the 
recall  of  the  officer,  and  upon  the  same  ballot  in  not  more  than  two  hundred 
words,  the  officer  may  justify  himself.  There  shall  be  printed  on  the 
recall  ballot,  as  to  every  officer  whose  recall  is  to  be  voted  on,  the  following 
question:  "Shall  (name  of  person  against  whom  the  recall  petition  is 
filed)  be  recalled  from  the  office  of  (title  of  office)!"  following  which 
question  shall  be  the  words  "Yes"  and  "No"  on  separate  lines,  with  a 
blank  space  at  the  right  of  each,  in  which  the  voter  shall,  by  stamping  a 
cross  (x)  indicate  his  vote  for  or  against  such  recall.  On  such  ballots, 
under  each  such  question  there  shall  also  be  printed,  if  the  officer  sought 
to  be  recalled  be  an  elective  officer,  the  names  of  those  persons  who  shall 
have  been  nominated  as  candidates  to  succeed  him,  in  case  he  shall  be 
recalled  at  such  election ;  but  no  vote  shall  be  counted  for  any  candidate 
for  said  office  unless  the  voter  also  voted  on  the  question  of  the  recall  of 
the  person  sought  to  be  recalled  therefrom.  The  name  of  the  person 
sought  to  be  recalled  shall  not  appear  on  the  ballot  as  a  candidate  for  the 
office.  If  a  majority  of  those  voting  on  said  question  of  the  recall  of  any 
incumbent  shall  vote  "No,"  said  incumbent  shall  continue  in  said  office. 
If  a  majority  shall  vote  "Yes,"  said  incumbent  shall  thereupon  be  deemed 
removed  from  such  office,  upon  the  qualification  of  his  successor.  The 
canvassers  shall  canvass  the  votes  for  candidates  for  said  office  and  declare 
the  result  in  like  manner  as  in  a  regular  election.  If  the  vote  at  any  such 
recall  election  shall  recall  the  officer,  then  the  candidate  who  has  received 
the  highest  number  of  votes  for  the  office  shall  be  thereby  declared  elected 
for  the  remainder  of  the  term.  In  ease  the  person  who  received  the 

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001  368  471 

highest  number  of  votes  shall  fail  to  qualify  within  ten  days  after  receiv- 
ing the  certificate  of  election,  the  office  shall  be  deemed  vacant  and  shall  be 
filled  according  to  law.  If  the  incumbent  of  an  appointive  office  be  re- 
called at  such  election,  his  successor  shall  be  appointed  immediately  after 
the  canvassing  of  the  vote. 

Before  any  petition  can  be  filed  under  this  section  for  the  recall  of 
any  person  in  the  classified  service  of  the  county,  there  shall  be  presented 
to,  and  be  passed  upon  by,  the  Civil  Service  Commission,  a  complaint  in 
writing  giving  the  grounds  for  and  asking  the  removal  of  such  person. 
Such  complaint  must  be  considered  and  be  finally  acted  upon  by  the  Com- 
mission within  twenty  days  after  such  filing. 

Until  such  time  as  the  Board  of  Supervisors  shall  appoint  a  Registrar 
of  Voters  under  the  provisions  of  this  Charter,  the  powers  and  duties  by 
this  section  conferred  upon  the  Registrar  of  Voters  shall  be  exercised  and 
performed  by  the  County  Clerk.  In  case,  at  any  time  prior  to  the  appoint- 
ment of  such  Registrar  of  Voters,  the  County  Clerk  shall  be  sought  to  be 
recalled,  such  powers  and  duties,  in  and  about  the  matter  of  such  pro- 
posed recall,  shall  be  exercised  and  performed  by  some  other  officer  or 
person  to  be  designated  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 

ARTICLE  XII. 
Miscellaneous. 

Sec.  51 :  Each  county  or  township  officer,  Board  or  Commission  shall 
appoint,  from  the  eligible  civil  service  list,  for  either  permanent  or  tem- 
porary service,  all  assistants,  librarians,  deputies,  clerks,  attaches  and 
other  persons  in  the  office  or  department  of  such  officer,  Board  or  Commis- 
sion, as  the  number  thereof  is  fixed  and  from  time  to  time  changed  by  the 
Board  of  Supervisors;  provided,  that  appointments  to  the  unclassified 
service  in  their  respective  offices  and  departments  shall  be  made  by  such 
officers,  Boards  and  Commissions,  without  reference  to  such  eligible  list. 

Sec.  52 :  The  compensation  of  any  elective  county  or  township  officer 
shall  not  be  increased  nor  diminished  during  the  term  for  which  he  was 
elected,  nor  within  ninety  days  preceding  his  election. 

No  compensation  for  any  position,  nor  of  any  person  under  civil  ser- 
vice, shall  be  increased  or  diminished  without  the  consent  of  the  Civil 
Service  Commission  specifically  given  thereto  in  writng. 

Sec.  53:  Whenever  any  person  in  the  service  of  the  county  is  com- 
pelled to  travel  in  the  performance  of  his  duty,  he  shall,  in  addition  to  his 
regular  compensation,  be  reimbursed  for  his  actual  necessary  expenditures 
for  transportation,  the  hire  of  conveyances,  and  for  lodging  and  meals. 
An  itemized  account  of  such  expenditures  shall  be  filed  with  the  Clerk  of 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  and  be  approved  by  the  Auditor  before  being 
paid.  The  Board  of  Supervisors  shall  fix  a  maximum  price  to  be  paid  for 
such  lodging  and  meals,  which  shall  be  uniform  and  be  made  applicable  to 
all  persons  alike,  including  members  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 

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Sec.  .">4 :  \<>  attorney,  a^rm.  stockholder  or  employe  of  any  linn, 
asocial  ion  or  corporation  doin«r  1-usiness  under  or  by  virtue  of  any  t'ran 
ehise  granted  by,  or  contract  made  with  the  counts,  shall,  nor  shall  any 
person  doing  such  business,  nor  shall  any  person  financially  interested  in 
any  such  franchise  or  contract,  be  eligible  to  or  hold  any  appoint  ive  count  s 
office. 

Sec.  55:  The  District  Attorney,  Public  Defender.  County  Counsel. 
and  their  deputies,  shall  not  engage  in  any  private  law  practice,  and  thes 
shall  devote  all  their  time  and  attention  during  business  hours  to  the 
duties  of  their  respective  offices. 

Sec.  56.  Nothing  in  this  Charter  is  intended  to  affect,  or  shall  be 
construed  as  affecting,  the  tenure  of  office  of  any  of  the  elective  officers 
of  the  county  or  of  any  district,  township  or  division  thereof,  in  office  at 
the  time  this  Charter  goes  into  effect,  and  such  officers  shall  continue  to 
hold  their  respective  offices  until  the  expiration  of  the  term  for  which 
they  shall  have  been  elected  unless  sooner  removed  in  the  manner  provided 
by  law;  nor  shall  anything  in  this  Charter  be  construed  as  changing  or 
affecting  the  compensation  of  any  such  officer  during  the  term  for  which 
he  shall  have  been  elected.  But  the  successors  of  each  and  all  of  such 
officers  shall  be  elected  or  appointed  as  in  this  Charter  provided,  and  not 
otherwise. 

Sec.  57:  This  Charter  shall  take  effect  at  noon  on  the  1irst  .Monday 
in  June,  1913. 

We,  the  undersigned  members  of  the  Board  of  Fifteen  Freeholders  of 
the  County  of  Los  Angeles,  in  the  State  of  California,  elected  at  a  special 
election  held  in  the  said  County  on  the  14th  day  of  May,  1912,  to  prepare 
and  provide  a  Charter  for  the  said  County,  under  and  in  accordance  with 
Section  iy2  of  Article  XI  of  the  Constitution  of  this  state,  have  prepared, 
and  we  do  hereby  propose,  the  foregoing  as  and  for  a  Charter  for  said 
County. 

IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  we  hereunto  sign  our  names  in  duplicate 
this  twenty-fourth  day  of  September,  1912. 

LEWIS  R.  WORKS.  Chairman 

FREDERICK  BAKER, 

WILLIS  H.  BOOTH, 

T.  H.  DUDLEY, 

WILLIAM  A.  ENGLE, 

DAVID  EVANS 

H.  C.  HUBBARD, 

J.  M.  HUNTER, 

GEORGE  F.  KERNAGHAN, 

FRANK  R.  SEAVER, 

J.  H.  STRINE, 

CHARLES  WELLBORN. 

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